ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collection
HMSS 0220 Horticultural Society of Canberra Inc. Records
Scope and contents notes
In 1925 a group of gardening enthusiasts met to form a society, the primary aim of which was to be the beautification of Canberra.
Notable early members were Charles Weston, the government horticulturalist and creator of the Yarralumla Nursery, and his successor, Alexander Bruce who was also responsible for the Parliament House Rose Gardens
The Society planned for two shows each year at the newly constructed Albert Hall, as well as organising an annual garden competition and was significantly involved in the development of the National Rose Garden.
In 1940, due to WWII food rationing, flowers were superseded by vegetables, and the garden competition became a Vegetable Garden Competition. In 1942, 1943 and 1944 the competition focussed on children’s vegetable gardens. Understandably, the Horticultural Society experienced difficulty in continuing its activities during 1942/1943 due to lack of personnel but by 1944 shows were up and running again.
Horticultural Society Shows were floral spectacles opened by celebrities. Many famous people have honoured the Society by opening the shows including, Sir Isaac Isaacs, Lord and Lady Gowrie, the Duchess of Gloucester, Sir William McKell, Field Marshall Sir William Slim, Sir Robert Garran, Mr J. Curtin, Sir Douglas Copeland, Sir Littleton Groom, Mrs J.A. Lyons, Lady Whiskard, Sir William Clemens, Sir Stephen Holmes, Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Dame Pattie Menzies, Sir John Overall, Sir Patrick McGovern, Mr J. Fraser, Mr A.D. Fraser, Sir Ninian and Lady Stephens.
The pattern of shows has continued and increased, and the garden competitions were replaced by Open Gardens, held in conjunction with Floriade, raising money for local charities.
The Society created and subsequently restored (after the 2003 bushfires) its gardens within the Xeriscape Garden at Weston, where beds containing roses, perennials, vegetables, daffodils and dahlias were tended. With the closure of the Weston Campus of the Canberria Institute of Technology, the Xeriscape Garden ceased. CIT has transferred to its new campus at Bruce and the Society has accepted an invitation to set up Trial Gardens within the grounds at Bruce to continue to promote good horticultural practices for Canberra’s unique climate.
The Horticultural Society of Canberra has published Canberra’s major gardening text, The Canberra Gardener since 1948 with eight subsequent editions, 1951, 1959, 1966, 1969, 1976, 1982, 1991 and 2004.
In 2006, the African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Canberra was subsumed into the Horticultural Society, becoming a special interest group. The records of the African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Canberra are to be found in this collection.
For more information about the Horticultural Society of Canberra, please see its website:
Box List
BOX NO. | DESCRIPTION | QTY | INCLUSIVE DATES | 1 | MINUTES includes some AGM minutes and annual reports | 1 vol
4 files 1 vol |
Oct 1932-May 1941
1941-1961
May 1967-June 1971 | | | | | | 2 | MINUTES
(no minutes between May 1983 and September 1984) | 6 vols | 1971-1978
1978-1983
1983-1987
1987-1991
1991-1993
1994-1998 | | | | | | 3 | MINUTES | 5 vols | 1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2004
2004-2006
2006-2008 | | | | | | 4 | ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES | 2 files
1 vol | 1960-1964
1965-1968
1967-1998 | | | | | | 4 | SHOW RECORDS
(awards by class in Society’s shows) | 1 vol | 1940-1944 | | | | | | 5 | SHOW SCHEDULES(none for 1990) | | 1930-1995 | | | | | | 6 | SHOW SCHEDULES | | 1996-2009 | | | | | | | | CANBERRA GARDENER | | | 6 | Sales records for the 5th edition | 1 vol | 1970-1981? | 6 | Copyright | 1 file | 1957-1982 | 6 | Printing and distribution | 1 file | 1976-1991 | 6 | Launch information | 1 file | 1991 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 1st edition | 2 copies | 1948 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 2nd edition | 2 copies | 1951 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 3rd edition | 2 copies | 1959 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 4th edition | 1 copy | 1966 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 5th edition | 2 copies | 1969 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 6th edition | 1 copy | 1976 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 7th edition | 1 copy | 1982 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 8th edition | 1 copy | 1991 | 6 | Canberra Gardener 9th edition | 1 copy | 2004 | | | | | | 7 | CANBERRA ROSE CLUB
includes constitution, notices and circulars to members, 1956-1958, copies of The Rose Bulletin, the club’s official bulletin (1955-1958), and email concerning the history of the Parliamentary Rose Gardens from Society President, Merylyn Condon, 2004. | 1 file | 1955-1958; 2004 | | | | | |
7
| EARLY HISTORY
collated documents concerning history of the Horticultural Society of Canberra including reports, newscuttings and circulars | 2 files | 1925-1932
1945-1948 | 7 | Newscuttings concerning the society’s activities | 1file | 1954-2009 | | | | | | | | HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF CANBERRA EVENTS RELATED MATERIALS
(no file in this series is comprehensive and is collated rather than created during normal administrative processes) | | | 8 | Sponsors, trophy and prize information
includes correspondence and accounts concerning prizes and trophies |
1 file
|
1948-1988
| 8 | Trophy Winners
Lists of winners of trophies and prizes
Register of Trophies and Prizes |
1 file
1 file
|
ca 1930-ca 1957
ca 1930-ca 2004
| 8 | Awards
information on life members of society including photographs, biographical information and newscuttings and awards to members and the Society from other organisations | 1 file | 1969-2008 | 8 | Judging
Horticultural Society of Canberra Inc, Horticultural Judges’ and Exhibitors’ Show Manual |
1 copy
1 copy
|
1984
1992
| 8 | Speakers/special guests
Correspondence and arrangements with speakers and special guests for meetings and shows |
1 file
|
1965-2008
| 8 | Realia
commemorative spoons and membership badges | 5 spoons
2 badges | nd
nd | 8 | Albert Hall Press Cuttings
newscuttings and correspondence concerning use of the Albert Hall by the Society |
1 file
|
1948-2001
| 8 | 70th Birthday Show
Photographs and newscuttings |
1 file
|
7 March 1999
| 8 | Diamond Jubilee Show
photographs, newscuttings and ephemera |
1 file
|
1999
| 8 | Points of Historical Interest
information gathered and displayed at an event about the history of the Albert Hall about the Society’s use of the Albert Hall - Spring Exhibition and Rose Show
- Spring Bulb and Camellia Show
- Autumn Flower Show
- Iris, Rhododendron and Azalea Show
| 2 files 2 files 1 file 1 file | 1925-2003 1933-2004 1925-2004 1951-2003 | 8 | Bicentenary Functions Photographs, correspondence, ephemera and stationery concerning the Society’s events organised to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary | 1 file | 1986-1988 | 8 | Photographs of gardens and shows | 1 file | 1959-1966 | | | | | | | | XERISCAPE GARDEN | | | 9 | Xeriscape Gardens Strategic Development Plan | 1 copy | June 1997 | 9 | Xeriscape Gardens Steering Committee correspondence and minutes | 1 file | 1997-2002 | 9 | Photographs of Xeriscape Garden | 1 file | 1997-? | 9 | Correspondence concerning closure of Canberra Institute of Technology Weston Campus |
1 file
|
2007-2008
| 9 | Prizes awarded for dahlias grown in Xeriscape Garden | 1 file | 2010 | | | | | | | | HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF CANBERRA OPEN GARDENS | | | 9 | Correspondence, committee mintues, photographs, marketing materials, arrangements, reports and accounts | 3 files | 1988-1994
1994-1997
1997-1999 | 10 | Photographs of Open Garden visit by Colin Campbell | 1 vol | September 2001 | | | | | | 10 | Grants Applications | 1 file | 1975-1988 | | | | | | 10 | Stationery Samples | 1 file | nd | | | | | | 10 | Floriade Involvement
includes coprrespondence, programs and posters |
1 file
|
1992-2009
| | | | | | 10 | Water Policy
chiefly correspondence, reports and submissions to ACT Government concerning water policy and pricing |
1 file
|
1980; 2005-2008
| | | | | | 10 | Royal Canberra Show Sponsorship
correspondence |
1 file
|
2003-2006
| | | | | | | | AFRICAN VIOLET AND GESNERIAD SOCIETY OF CANBERRA RECORDS Formed as African Violet Society of Canberra in Jan 1965, incorporated 29 October 1973 and changed name to African Violet and Gesneriad Society of Canberra, Inc. 4 November 1977. It ceased to operate alone in 2006; becoming a special interest group of the Horticultural Society of Canberra. | | | 10 | Minutes | 3 vols | Jan 1965-May 1967
June 1967-Nov 1969
March 1970-Aug 1972 | 11 | Minutes | 4 vols | May 1973-April 1976
June 1976-Nov-1979
Nov 1979-June 1982
July 1982-Sept 1985 | 12 | Minutes | 3 vols
1 file | April 1990-Nov 1992
Jan 1993-July 1994
Aug 1994-June 1996
June 1996-May 1997 | 12 | Awards (certificates and ribbon | 1 file | 1979-1992 | 12 | Certificates of Incorporation | 2 | 1973; 1977 | 12 | Floppy discs | 4 | nd | | | | | | 12 | Memorial Garden Information
Helene and Rob Salzmann and Jim Pollard were victims of the Port Arthur Massacre in April 1996. This file contains:
Dedication Of Memorial Garden Order of Service 26 April 1997
Memorial Service Order of Service 9 May 1996
Photographs of garden and dedication 26 April 1997 | 1 file | 1996-1997 | | | | | | 13 (o/s) | Framed photograph of Autumn Flower Show, Albert Hall | 1 | 1932 |
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